i know alot of people will automatically say 'yes of course he's evil he's jsut like his father' but what i want you guys to do is think about him (his characteristics, things he's done,his history, etc.) then i want you to answer my question. i would greatly appreciate it if you would explain your reasoning when/if you reply!!

Of course he is evil, he inherits it from his father. He was FORMED into Evilness by his father and his blood.

what about sirius and tonks, plus aren't u forgetting that dear old lucius is gone right now?

Well, I think Draco is the way he is, is because of his father. That was how he was raised to believe, and maybe now that his father isn't around to tell him what to think, maybe Draco will start thinking for himself. Wether its good or bad, i dunno. To me, he will always be spoiled, but that doesnt mean he has to be evil.

Well, Bella, you already know how I feel about that whole thing. I want Draco to be good. But I think that's just because I have the biggest crush on Tom Felton. lol. So, I don't know. It would just be cool if Draco was like another Snape; good but still kinda mean and bad. Either way he's a really cool character in a mean and evil bad boy way. Sorry, i get carried away sometimes.

So...you guys are telling me....Draco who shows no fear in the Darkest Most Evilest Wizard alive, but since he's scared of creatures he can't be evil. He is evil cuz his family blood is evil. His, and ONLY his family blood is evil. His previous families were evil. You guys say he is spoiled, yes he is spoiled, and he is influenced. His dad. His dad is gone, he is still gonna act like that. What about calling Hermione Mudblood all the time? That is evil, and his dad WASN'T there. What abuot that?

hey voldie did you miss page 851 of ootp!?!?!

I just did my hair, I think my self-esteem has raised a few tabs... Anyway!

It's a debate that has been going on in my head for quite sometime... I mean, he's obviously not as brave as a Gryffindor. He's actually seems to be a very easily frightened person. He only seems brave because he is constantly flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, you saw how he was in SS/PS when he took Neville's remembrall (spelling?) and Harry followed him up. He wasn't as big and mighty without those dim-witted/grunting/body-guards of his. So, I assume that he doesn't respect his father, just fears him, and tends to say things that are on his mind before thinking it over. He was scared into believing what his father taught him.

Sirius and Tonks weren't because they were actually brave enough to stand up to the Black family. Draco isn't. So, I think he is not actually evil (which totally stinks for me), he is somewhat good. Just too afraid to announce it.

I rest my case.

Honestly Voldy, people are influenced by those around them. Draco wsn't BORN evil, he's been brought up by an evil dad. All he's ever known is being mean to other people and that purebloods are good and everyone else is bad. He's still a child and hasn't been away from his parents long enough to begin thinking for himself without their influence

Blood isn't evil, Voldemort. Look at the Black family; the entire line was evil EXCEPT for Sirius. Come on, you'd think that'd be obvious. (Although there were a few others in that family who were good, and the Malfoys are related to that family) Draco tries to be like his father, and you don't know if he's scared of the Dark Lord or not. He may talk about him and all that stuff, but I bet if he were anywhere near him he'd be scared to death. I still say there is a good chance that Draco is not evil at heart. But you never know.

Truth be told, I tihnk he's just a spoiled brat, but not 'truly evil' like his father. I think Lucius is probably more power-hungry than evil upon evil like You-Know-Who, but I think Draco's just pampered and that's why he acts the way he does.

That and I think he really believes his father's innocent >.>

I DID say he was influenced. I don't care what anybody says, I bet you Draco wouldn't hestitate for a second to join the Dark Lord and spread his evil and darkness. Especially if it were attacking Muggles and Mudbloods.

Well, I'd have to agree with Vody on that last point. He has been influenced by his Dad his whole life. And attacking Muggles and Muggle-borns is what Luciuos was in charge of before Harry came, right?

So deep down Malfoy is just a scared little boy? Somehow that seems unlikely. I don't know...

---------------------

"Mmmm. Pie-pants."

draco was influenced by his father.
i think that if one day he sat down with dumbledore and had a long chat on the subject, draco could think for himself, and become, like said before, a snape, good, but still treat harry evil.
or, he could hate dumbledore more and try to rescue his father and spread evil all about the world.

He is scared. But his evil side out weights his scared side.

i don't know i mean he gets like really freaked out whenever voldemort is mentioned. he's not courageous enough to be a death eater but he's also too **** proud to be one

I think he's also smart (I know, I know... how silly of me!), so maybe he'll notice that by becoming a Death Eater, your like becoming a slave, and he'll be too much of a snob to actually fall for that. Hey! Who knows? I chose "maybe" on the poll. Wait, I forgot, is "maybe" even on the poll?

Draco has been raised all his life thinking the worse of muggles and mudbloods. As much as we might not like Lucious, he is a very powerful and intimidating person. And like a lot of kids, Draco probably wants to make his father proud, even if he doesn't think that way. Maybe now that his Dad is gone, we might see more of a kinder, gentler Draco. Or maybe he really is evil, who knows.

My automatic response for this pole was, Evil.
My considered opinion, also Evil.
Reasons
1) He is mean to others
2) He is seriously jealous of Harry
3) He enjoys bullying
4) and causing real trouble (Rita Skeeter/Hagrid/Hippogriff)

He had his purpose in this series. Draco represented Slytherine and introduced the "House" concept to Harry. So Harry could insist to the hat that he NOT be put in Slytherine.

Draco also was the first training for Harry in real wizard duelling.

So, I think he is evil, but he has been useful. Draco will be the spearhead of the Slytherine faction in the coming war of the Houses.

Draco grew up being evil he has no choice.
I love him when hes bad.
He should not be changed.


DRACO MALFOY
PURE BLOOD
PURE EVIL
NO PURE HEART

i say maybe because hes a big wimp

I chose Maybe...
It's so hard to tell, i personally really like him...I mean, like, he's a nasty little boy really, and thus far there's been nothing really redeeming written about him in the books, but to be honest, I think it'd be too much of a cliche for him simply to swan off and join the Death Eaters and be just like his father. One thing that's very true about him, is he fears his father, it can't really be said that he comes from a loving family, it's more a case of he believes and is influenced by those around him...
I'd love it if he could have some kind of a redemption in the later books, but I think that's perhaps me reading too much fanfic...*sigh* I just don't know...

i agree with you...he's not just going to follow in his father's footsteps but he is terrified of his father. (i know we aren't supposed to use things from the movies) If you watch cos in the bookshop scen you'll notice that he visibly flinches when his father's cane whacks him. also if you watch the deleted scene he is quite terrified. but he is always such a wimp, as was shown in poa, when his croonies can't help him. voldemort might not want him because he's so scared plus draco is too proud to kiss up to voldie. plus he might see that voldemort is insane. if he does choose the light side i could see some kind of friendship form between him and harry (as long ashe forgives him for all those terrible comments) because draco has never treated him like anything special. he's always treated him like any other arch nemesis. maybe I have read too much fanfiction...i don't know...what do you guys think?

no he is not i think he learned to hate muggle-borns(hermy)and halfboolds from his dad but at the beging of ss he was nice to harry but then harry said he did not need help to pick his frinds he became bitter becasue he is not harry frined. i think he has resepect for harry and that is y he was nice to him at the being of the first book

I dunno if Draco is truly evil.

But he's truly HOTT!

I have to say maybe! Everything kinda points to him being EVIL! But i still hold out hope that he will become better and less EVIL in the end!

Alas, behold the greatness of well planned out research and fanfictions!

I've read over a few passages from the books and I have come to a conclusion. Draco is just not Death Eater material.

He is completely weak, courtesy of being spoiled all of his life by his parents, and he just doesn't fit the blood lustful and cold hearted traits of a true Death Eater.

I mean, yeah, he does hate Harry and does his best to make the poor guy's life heck, but it's all through immature taunts and immature little plans.

When he dressed as a Dementor in the third book, that was clearly immature, as most of you have recognized.

Yes, he loves his father dearly, most likely the (normal family) feeling is mutual, but also most likely hidden as well, and (by reading the fifth book) he resents anyone that is against the man. Childish taunts and loathing does not prove if someone is evil, it just (I'm guessing) proves their jealousy, which is what I'm guessing Draco feels toward Harry.

He is fond of his father, he wants to be like him as well, but he doesn't fit the downright cruelly evil personality that his own father possesses.

I think he's just too darn chicken to become a Death Eater. Plus, it's his father that really gave him all these ideas about pure bloods etc. I think he's just jealous of Harry. Harry's the one who gets all the attention, Harry got to participate in the Triwizard, Harry got to be in the Quidditch team in his first year, etc.
Draco wants his father to be proud of him, so he acts like him. But he's mostly scared of him, I think.
And Draco really just taunts Harry. He is so immature, and he calls Hermione a mudblood because he knows his father would've done that (well, I think so at least)

But I don't think he'll turn completely good either. I voted maybe, cause evil is a bit harsh.

I totally agree with you, Draco wants to be just like his father, and of course he wants to be important, recognized, and all that!, and like Dracoluver said: he´s jealous, the one that always get the attention is Harry, but I got said that I doubt about Draco being good!, maybe he had a nice part, a good part, at least a little, but does not show it, ´cause he´s afraid of his father, Dracod does not know what his father can do if he catch him doing something good and against the way he have teach!

I forgot to say something in my other post. I don't think that people are born evil. Something always has to make them turn evil.

I think that Draco is truly evil. He can choose what he does and does not do. I think he is a bad guy.

Maybe. But I really don't care... he's cute anyway!!

Hmmm, I'm not too sure myself. Right now he's not really evil, just a stupid little jerk, that's all. He's been influenced by his surroundings, so that's why he's the person that he is (plus, genetics are involved too). I guess we need to read the two books to find out. Since his dad is in Azkaban now, it can go into both directions.

Draco can now be free. He doesn't need to follow his dad's expectations by joining the death eaters, or just being plain evil. He can be the person he WANTS to be; without following anyone's footsteps, or expectations.

OR

Draco WANTS to avenge his dad, so thus trying to kill Harry, and joining the death eaters; since they are the one of Harry's worse enemies.

Again, Dumbledore is right. It is our CHOICES that makes us who we are. So, it all depends on what Draco wants, and chooses to do. So, we have to wait for the sixth book, which is taking an eternity to come out (although, I want the series to last =\ )

I think he just acts evil because he's trying to make his father proud of him and live up to the Malfoy name. I think he's really just scared to disobey his father and be friendly with Harry and the gang.

all you people are saying how he was influenced by his family, and that is partaly true. however; alot of this also depends on the acctualy person. for example: sirius was sorted into gryfiendor evan though his entire family was evil, while draco was obviously put in slytherin. it is true that enviornment durring childhood has great effect of these matters, there are ocassional mutations as said by sirius, pg 111, OotP:"Of corse, when ever the[Black] family turned out someone halfway decent, they were disowned." also, why would tonks be an example? it's really more of the imediate family(parrents+sibblings), and tonk's mum was one of the rare non-scum blacks, and her dad was muggle born. futhermore; pg 851 of OotP is just another example of family influence on evil peoples. thankies for makeing my look it up though. it gave me a new quote for my signature.

ps i know there are alot of sirius references in this post, but hey, he's great example.

I' actually not sure. He seems evil towards the trio, but when real scary things happends, like in the foridden forrest in the first book, draco is scared to death. He's aybe just "high" when he knows he is safe.

Know what I mean?

As pointed out in an earlier post by Dracoluver is anyone ever truly born evil?

What we do may be constrained as evil but does that mean were bad to the bone, or innately evil?

I think there’s two key questions which have ask of Draco:

Does he personally think what he does is evil? (In other words the Mud-blood jibes and the racist ideals he apparently holds to be true, and the constant desire to humiliate hurt and demoralise people, particularly Harry Hermione, Ron and Neville., by any means necessary.

I believe the answer to this is no. Malfoy IMHO truly believes in his superiority, and this has never wavered through out the books.

Secondly is Draco old enough to be responsible for his actions?

This (again IMHO) is a much tougher question. Draco's no longer a child and he should be able to take responsibility for whatever he does. This is no more true than Now. He’s getting older in the next book and with his father arrested things are going to get that bit more serious. The half blood prince will I think have Draco decide what path he must take and ultimately be responsible for what he does.

I nulled my vote just to see what everyone said. I was surprised at how even the voting is. I thought there would be alot more yes's

Anyway, evil is in the eye of the beholder. No one sets out to be evil. It's not like becoming a fireman or something. What little kid says, "I'm going to be evil when I grow up!" To Draco and people like the Malfoys, those who allow, or even advocate thinning the wizard bloodlines with non-magic blood are "evil." To them it is like a human mating with a monkey and producing offspring. Which is not to say they are right, only that everyone has some justification for their action. Hitler believed Jews were evil. Which justified his actions in his mind, and the minds of other people who think along the same lines.

Which is why I think we should all look to ourselves rather than trying to "save" other peoples souls or "purge the world of all evil." Who decides what is evil?

"God," you might say. But when God has written so many conflicting books, it becomes a matter of human choice on which they follow. One is no better than the other. It is only when people try to force others to wear the same symbol that things get ugly.

It is not for any man to decide how another must live, act, or think. All we can do is live our lives the best we can, display our beliefs through our actions, and hope others try to emulate us. "Evil" occurs when one people try to force another people into following their beliefs. Having different beliefs is not evil.

I would have a hard time calling him truly evil at this point and time in the book's I can thik of a few other things to call him but im to polit to wright any of them down. I do believe that he has the potential to become truly evil he is just not there yet at this point in his life and he may never be only JKR know's that one for sure. I like the fact he's not evil and is just a big bully. It show's another bad aspect of human nature that is not necsicaraly evil and lord knows there is enugh evil in the potter books it add's a nice balence to the whole black and wight thing.

Awww, Draco’s not evil, he’s just surrounded by it! lol
I think it would be awfully hard to say to such a man as Lucius that you wish not to be apart of ‘evil’ or that you wish not to be a death eater and from that I gather he’s got no choice in the matter, but is he evil, really? I doubt it, have we ever seen anything that strikes us as particularly evil in the books (on Draco’s behalf I mean). Its always just words, never really any evil, or deadly actions.
And think he’s just putting up a front…I would love it if he was evil but I don’t think he’s got it in him.

M.C

MOD EDIT : Minor netspeak spotted!! Please be more careful next time.

Naaa He is not evil, but ethier a saint, just is bad influence for his father

I say NO, because, there is just somethink about the way he act. i gess you can say that draco is one of these people how think there HARD, if you know what i mean?. but not evil

The little twitchy ferret that is Draco Malfoy, is definitely not pure evil.

I reckon he'll redeem himself (slightly or a lot) in the HBP book and/or Book 7. He's trying to model himself after his father Lucius but i don't believe he has it in him to, say, go all the way and kill someone etc. Poor Draco, i doubt his domestic life is all that peachy.

I think that Draco is evil. Though he is pressured by his father and his father's position as a death eater, he uses his own will to be a big butt.

I think his father puts alot of pressure on him, and he has evil blood in him.

I don't think that Draco truly is evil because I'm sure if oldemort came up to him and asked him to be a death eater one day he'd say no because deep down draco malfoy is scared of him.

Too right he is - how much more evil could he possibly be?!! sorry to all the draco fans, but i firmly beleive hes going to get what he deserves!!

Malfoy isn't evil. He just wants to be in the spotlight, just like Harry is.